by Larry EderAsafa Powell ran 47.75 for 400 meters this past weekend as he opened his season in Jamaica. Jenny Barringer ran a fine 8:53.88 for 3,000 meters indoors at the UW invitational. Her time is a world leader.
EME NEWS (FEB 1, 2009)
POWELL CLOCKS 47.75
KINGSTON (JAM, Jan 31): Former world record holder at 100 m and relay Olympic winner Asafa Powell started his season with usual 400 m outing at 9th Queen’s/Grace Jackson Meet at the Stadium East field in Kingston. He clocked 47.75 to win his heat and it is in line with other years when he achieved similar times and his PB is 47.17. Female 100 m Olympic winner Shelly-Ann Fraser got 54.99 at 400 m in her first race at the distance ever. Faster was interestingly another top member of Steven Francis MVP Club hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton who got 53.89 and beat Anneisha McLaughlin (53.92) and Fraser was third. 400 m Hurdles gold medalist Melaine Walker clocked 23.72 at 200 m, 400 m silver medalist Shericka Williams achieved 23.77. „I’m feeling good right now. 47.7 is really a good time for a sprinter so I’m very confident and comfortable. This year I’m healthy and a lot stronger than last year. I just want to remain injury free and just better my personal best at 100 m,” Powell was quoted by Jamaican Observer. Another world record relay member Nesta Carter was third overall in the 400m with a PR of 47.82, Ainsley Waugh achieved 48.08.
(Asafa Powell at the his world record, 2007, Photo courtesy of Photorun.net)
MORROCAN WIN IN JAPAN
OITA (JPN, Feb 1): Running away from Seiji Kobayashi, his final challenger with 5Km to go in the race, Morrocan Adil Annani won the 58th Beppu-Oita Marathon in 2:10:15. „It was very windy, especially from 13 to 26Km, so I just tried to stay with Kenyans till 35Km. It was my first race in Japan, so I am happy to win. It was my personal best,” said Annani after the race. His previous best was 2:11:05, recorded in the 2008 Marrakech marathon. Although he failed to break 2:10 as he had hoped before the race, his victory should be sufficient for making the Moroccan marathon team for the World Championships in Berlin. Seiji Kobayashi was second in 2:10:38, a personal best. „I have not cracked 2:10 yet, so I would like to run faster,” said Kobayashi. His previous best was 2:11:02, recorded in the 2008 Tokyo Marathon. Although the race was one of the qualifying races for the World Championships in Berlin, unlike Fukuoka marathon last December and upcoming Lake Biwa Marathon and Tokyo Marathon in March, the winner (or first Japanese) is not guaranteed to be selected for the marathon team for Berlin. Since Kobayashi’s time is slower than that of Arata Fujiwara (2:09:47) and Tomoyuki Sato (2:09:59) recorded in Fukuoka Marathon, Kobayashi has a little chance of making the team for Berlin. A marathon debutant Keita Akiba, who attracted lots of attention before the race did not disappoint anyone. He finished respectable third with 2:10:53. „I was feeling good until 30Km, but felt terrible after I fell behind the leaders. Although I could not crack 2:10, but since it was windy, I guess it was a good time,” said Akiba after the race. Although Akiba’s debut marathon is not as fast as a debut marathon (2:08:53) by Koichi Morishita, Olympic silver medalist who made his marathon debut in 1991 Beppu-Oita marathon, he is faster than the debut marathon (2:13:16) by Hiromi Taniguchi, World champion who made his marathon debut in 1985 Beppu-Oita marathon. Peter Kiprotich, who stayed with the leaders until 36Km and was fourth at 40Km, struggled home in eighth place (2:13:44). Australian Scott Westcott, who finished second in 2005 and third in 2008, was fourth (2:12:56).
YAMAUCHI IMPROVES PB
MARUGAME (JPN, Feb 1): British olympic marathon sixth placer Mara Yamauchi improved to 1:08:29 while winning the Marugame Half Marathon. She beat some of the top Japanese runners as Yuir Kano was second (1:09:22) and world medalist 2007 Reiko Tosa fourth (1:10:58). Kenyan Mekubo Mogusu clocked 1:01:37 to win the men race. 2000 Olympic winner Naoko Takahashi registered 1:26:18, but she is no longer running for top times.
US SATURDAY SUMMARY (JAN 31)
SEATTLE: 21 years old Olympic Trials fifth placer Ashton Eaton scored first this years 6000+ heptathlon at Washington Invitational. His 6174 points comes with 2:39.92 final 1000 m on oversized track, but that is not playing a role within seven events. His other marks: 6.84-759-12.06-209-7.91-497. Sharon Day was also good in pentathlon (4276). Other top marks of the meet came in distance races, with help of 307 m oval of Dempsey facility. Tetlo Emmen in his first ever indoor 800 clocked 1:48.40 and took with him Mark Wieczorek to 1:48.43. Dorian Ulrey confirmed his last week mile improvement with 7:50.86 at 3000 m. On women side world leading 8:53.88 3000 m by US steeple record holder Jenny Barringer and Canadian Julia Howard achieved 4:39.27 mile.
FLAGSTAFF: Altitude (2103 m) and 300 m track helped to some good marks at Mountain T´s Invitational. Carlos Moore clocked 6.55 at 60 m to beat Canadian Pierre Browne (6.60). 21-years old Donald Sanford achieved 46.76 at 400m and World champs participant Jenny Adams 8.27 at 60 m Hurdles. Hasani Roseby won the 60 m in good quality 7.23. 22-years old versatile jumper Matt Turner is the first US 8+ in Long Jump this year with exactly 800 (his indoor PB).
COLLEGE STATION: Fast 60 m times were registered at Big 12 vs. SEC showdown in new hall here. NCAA Champion Trindon Holliday got 6.56 at 60 m to beat Gerald Phiri who posted a new Zambian record 6.59. Phiri also won the 200 m in achieving another NR 21.01. Porscha Lucas clocked world leading 23.38 at 200 m.
NORMAN: Slovak hammer world medalist Libor Charfreitag improved here his season best in Weight Throw to 23.73 m. He hopes to throw more in remaining two meets of his indoor campaign.
FAIRFAX: Middle-distance star Alan Webb won the mile at Patriot Games with 4:04.91.
HOUSTON: Fast 60 m sprints at Houston Invitational. Gloria Asumnu clocked 7.21. Trell Kimmons beat with 6.63 Canadian Anson Henry 6.67.
FINDLAY: Kendall Stevens achieved 6.60 60 m at Findlay Classic.
LINCOLN: Lukas Hulett registered good 46.75 at 400 m and Ibrahim Kabia 6.65 at 60 m during Adidas Classic meet.
ALBUQUERQUE: Zack Lloyd got his second career best 20.77 in Shot Put during New Mexico Invitational. Jake Arnold scored solid 5649 points heptathlon.
BLOOMINGTON: Ryan Bailey clocked 6.69 to beat Jamaican Lerone Clarke in close finish (also 6.69) at Indiana Relays.
UNIVERSITY PARK: 32 years old Rebecca Donaghue achieved a nice overall 3000 m PB 9:07.03 what is also new facility record. Canadian Rob Watson also improved at 3000 m to 7:59.49. 23years old Liam Boylan-Pett got his first sub 4 mile in 3:59.40.
OTHER RESULTS
MONTREAL (CAN, Jan 31): Nic Macrozonaris clocked a 6.72 60 m win here.
VALENCIA (ESP, Jan 31): Two hurdles additions from Spanish Club Championships from national record holders. Jackson Quinonez posted 7.80 and Josephine Oniya 8.10.
BIRMINGHAM (GBR, Jan 31): Dwain Chambers shape is good what was confirmed by 6.54 in the finals of Birmingham Games. As already reported he clocked second fastest in the world and European leading 6.52 in semifinals.
ESPINHO (POR, Jan 31): World leading 3000 m walk by Vera Santos 12:46.27 during Portugal Club Championships.
Special thanks to Alfons Juck, EME NEws is used with permission of Alfons Juck and sponsored by Shooting Star Media, Inc.
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